Adhesive applicator for labels and the like



Oct. 27, 1964 H. ROSENTHAL ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR LABELS AND THE LIKEFiled July 51, 1962 "1171. I, II

IN VENTOR HARRY ROSENTHAL United States Patent Ofiice 3,154,434 Patentedst. 27, 1964 3,154,434 ADHESIVE APPLIATOR FOR LABELS AND THE LIKE HarryRosenthal, 3825 Greenwood, Skokie, 111. Filed July 31, 1962, Ser. No.213,891 3 Claims. (Q1. 118-245) This invention relates to devices forautomatically applying adhesives to labels and the like, and moreparticularly to such a device having improved reliability and operatingcharacteristics.

Various industries, department stores, mail order houses and shippingrooms use large quantities of labels for such purposes as shipping andstorage identification. Preglued labels are difficult to use as theyoften stick together when stored, and labels having protective coveringsfor the gummed portions are expensive and take time to apply. Ittherefore becomes desirable to apply the adhesive to the labels justprior to placing the labels on a particular package or goods.

Numerous devices and machines have been proposed for this purpose. Manyof these devices utilize an applicator roller which presents theadhesive to the label as it passes over the roller. One diificultyencountered in using such a device is that the label often sticks to thesurface of the roller, necessitating the stopping of operation until thelabel can be removed. Various arrangements have been proposed to removethe labels from the roller but these have not been satisfactory.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improveddevice for automatically applying adhesive to labels and the like, whichdevice will feed the labels to a position easily accessible for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device having theabove described characteristics and which is of simple and inexpensiveconstruction.

A feature of the invention is the provision, in a device forautomatically applying adhesive to labels and the like, of an applicatorroller having a plurality of circumferential grooves therein and acorresponding plurality of pickoff members extending tangentiallytherefrom to collectively present a guiding surface.

Another feature of the invention is the provision, in the abovedescribed device, of pickoif members having offset portions which engagea cross member, and an end engaging the frame of the device to hold thepickoff members in place against the roller.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same device with the top portionremoved and inverted;

FIG. 3 is a section View taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

1G. 4 is a perspective View of the device taken from a vantage pointopposite that of FIG. 1, with part broken away.

In accordance with the invention, a device for automatically applyingadhesive substance to labels and the like is provided with an applicatorroller having a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in thesurface thereof. The roller is rotatably mounted and driven by anelectric motor to apply adhesive substance to the labels as the rollerrotates to pass them over its surface. A plurality of pickolf membersare mounted on the frame of the device to have portions riding in thegrooves in the applicator roller. These portions extend beneath thesurface of the applicator roller by riding in the grooves to therebyavoid the possibility of the labels catching underneath the ends of thepickoff members. Each of the pickoff members has a portion extendingtangentially from the applicator roller, and the pickoff members arealigned to collectively present a guiding surface for separating thelabels from the roller. The ends of the pickoff members opposite theroller engage the frame of the device and an offset portion on eachmember adjacent this opposite end engages a cross member mounted on theframe parallel to the applicator roller, thereby wedging the guidemembers in position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a device for automatically applying adhesivesubstance to labels and the like is shown having a frame structure 11which includes a removable top portion 13. The top portion 13 isprovided with a table portion 15 with front and rear portions and onwhich the operator of the device may slide labels such as 17 intocontact with the surface of an applicator roller 19. A guide bar 21 isprovided parallel with and adjacent to roller 19 under which the labelsare fed to the roller 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 24, the operational portions of the device may bemore readily seen. Roller 19 is driven by gear 23, which may be of anysuitable material such as brass or Bakelite. Gear 23, when top portion13 is in position, is driven by gear 25. Gear 25 engages gear 23 and isdriven through gear reduction unit 27 by drive motor 29 (FIG. 4). Gearreduction unit 27 and motor 2% are contained in a chamber 31 formed onthe inside of the frame, and gears 23 and 25 are contained in a gear boxextension 12 of frame structure 11. A notch 24 is formed in framestructure 11 to accommodate the axle of gear 23. Switch 33 is providedto activate the drive motor 29, and a pilot light 35 is also provided toindicate that the motor is on. The motor 29 and unit 27 are mounted on abase plate 311. The invention is equally adaptable to hand operateddevices such as by providing roller 19 with a crank.

The inside of frame 11 is formed into a well or reservoir 37 forcontaining adhesive substance such as water base glue, etc. In the eventthat glues such as flexible animal glues that require heating are used,appropriate heating apparatus could be installed to heat reservoir 37.As may be seen from FlG. 3, when top portion 13 is positioned on framestructure 11, roller 19 will extend into reservoir 37 to be partiallyimmersed in the adhesive substance filling the reservoir. Roller 19,which may be of any suitable material which will permit glue todistribute evenly on its surface, for example brass or certain plastics,then rotates to pick up the adhesive material on its surface and carryit out above the surface of table 15. A scraper blade 38 is providedwith adjusting slots 40 and adjusting screws 42 so that the amount ofglue picked up on the surface of roller 19 may be controlled. As labelsare inserted between guide bar 21 and the surface of table 15, they arecarried over the surface of the rotating roller 19 to thereby have theirundersides coated with adhesive substance.

The adhesive applying device includes a mechanism for removal of thelabels from the surface of roller 19. Roller 19 has a plurality ofcircumferential grooves 39 formed in the surface thereof. A plurality ofwire pickoif or guide members 41 are provided to mate respectively witheach of grooves 39. As may be seen in FIG. 3, members 41 are curved nearone end to ride in grooves 39 and to lie beneath the surface of roller19 and extend below table 15. No opportunity is therefore afforded forthe labels to enter the space between members 41 and roller 19 to clogor jam therebetween. The members 41 extend tangentially from the surfaceof roller 19 in a common plane to collectively form a guide surface onwhich the labels ride as the roller 19 turns. To insert the labels, theyare pushed forward under guide bar 21 to engage the adhesive carried onthe surface of roller 19. They are carried on the rotating surface andcoated with the adhesive substance, and then engage members 3 41 to becarried off the surface of roller 19 as shown in FIG. 1.

Members 41 are secured in position by engagement with top portion 13 offrame 11, rod 45 and roller 19. The end of guide members 41 opposite theroller 19 are bent over slightly to engage the corner of top portion 13of frame 11. Thus, frame 11 and roller 19 exert an upward force onmembers 41 to support the same. An offset portion 43 is formed in eachof members 41 to define a generally V-shaped notch. A rod member 45 ismounted in the top portion 13 of frame structure 11 parallel with roller19 to engage offset portions 43 of members 41. This provides a downwardforce to effectively wedge members 41 in position. To further insurestable positioning of members 41, cross member 45 is provided with aplurality of circumferential grooves 47 to mate with members 41 in thesame manner as the grooves 39 in roller 19. As shown in FIG. 2, topportion 13 is separable from the rest of frame 11, permitting access toreservoir 37.

It may therefore be seen that the invention provides an improved devicefor automatically applying adhesive substance to labels and the like,which device includes a guide structure on which the labels ride tofacilitate picking up the labels for use. The guide structure will notpermit jamming of labels between the applicator roller and the pickolffixture. The adhesive applying device is low in cost and simple ofconstruction.

I claim:

1. A device for applying adhesive substance to labels including incombination, a frame, a rotatable applicator roller mounted to saidframe for applying adhesive substance to the labels, said roller havinga plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the surface thereof, across member parallel with said roller and having a plurality ofcircumferential grooves therein correspondingly aligned with saidgrooves in said roller, a plurality of resilient guide members, eachhaving a first portion mating with a corresponding one of said groovesin said roller to lie beneath the surface of said roller across theupper portion thereof, said guide members having second portionsextending tangentially from said roller to collectively present aguiding surface for separating the labels from said roller, each of saidguide members further having a third portion on the opposite side ofsaid second portion from said first portion, said third portions beingformed to extend beneath said cross member mating with said groovestherein and engaging the upper surface of said frame to resilientlywedge said guide members in place.

2. A device for applying adhesive substance to labels including incombination, a frame having a separable top portion, a rotatableapplicator roller mounted to said top portion for applying adhesivesubstance to the labels,

said roller having a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in thesurface thereof, a cross member mounted to said top portion parallelwith said roller and having a plurality of circumferential groovestherein correspondingly aligned with said grooves in said roller, aplurality of resilient guide members, each having a first portion matingwith a corresponding one of said grooves in said roller to lie beneaththe surface of said roller across the upper portion thereof, said guidemembers having second portions extending tangentially from said rollerto collectively present a guiding surface for separating the labels fromsaid roller, each of said guide members further having a third portionon the opposite side of said second portion from said first portion,said third portions being formed to extend beneath said cross membermating with said grooves therein and engaging the upper surface of saidtop portion to resiliently wedge said guide members in place.

3. A device for applying adhesive substance to labels including incombination, a frame structure having a reservoir for containing theadhesive substance, a motor driven applicator roller mounted on saidstructure to be partially immersed When said reservoir is filled withthe adhesive substance, a table mounted adjacent said roller for thefeeding of labels to said roller to contact the surface thereof, anadjustable scraper blade mounted beneath the surface of said table andhaving an edge adjacent said roller for controlling the amount ofadhesive material retained on the surface of said roller, a guide barparallel to said roller for guiding the labels from said table onto thesurfaces of said roller, said roller having a plurality ofcircumferential grooves formed in the surface thereof, a plurality ofresilient wire guide members each having a portion mating with therespective ones of said grooves to lie beneath the upper surface of saidroller, each of said guide members having the ends adjacent said rollerextending beneath the surface of said table, a mounting bar fixed tosaid frame and extending parallel with said roller, said mounting baralso having a plurality of grooves therein in corresponding alignmentwith the grooves in said roller, said guide members each having anoffset end portion thereon extending beneath said mounting bar in thecorresponding groove therein and contacting the surface of said frame toresiliently wedge in position, said guide members having a portionextending tangentially from said roller to collectively present aguiding surface for separating the label from said roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

2. A DEVICE FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE SUBSTANCE TO LABELS INCLUDING INCOMBINATION, A FRAME HAVING A SEPARABLE TOP PORTION, A ROTATABLEAPPLICATOR ROLLER MOUNTED TO SAID TOP PORTION FOR APPLYING ADHESIVESUBSTANCE TO THE LABELS, SAID ROLLER HAVING A PLURALITY OFCIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVES FORMED IN THE SURFACE THEREOF, A CROSS MEMBERMOUNTED TO SAID TOP PORTION PARALLEL WITH SAID ROLLER AND HAVING APLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVES THEREIN CORRESPONDINGLY ALIGNEDWITH SAID GROOVES IN SAID ROLLER, A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT GUIDEMEMBERS, EACH HAVING A FIRST PORTION MATING WITH A CORRESPONDING ONE OFSAID GROOVES IN SAID ROLLER TO LIE BENEATH THE SURFACE OF SAID ROLLERACROSS THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, SAID GUIDE MEMBERS HAVING SECOND